The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1887-02-27

part Of Mr.. Kur,z that there is stil money in
The religious racket, for he expresses willing
ness TO pay 800, 900 for painting OF equal sizc
and execution on the subject OF "Thc Crucifix-
ion" And he invites American artists to con
tribute. Kurtz is not only religious but patrl-
otic, and fancy the two combined would be
valuable racket to work.
The brief paragraph which sent you week
ago regarding the strong opposition existing
hero to the appointment OF any ex.railroad
manager as an Interstate Commerce Commis
sioncr has greatly stirred up the newspapers,
and some Of them have been inquiring into the
nature of this opposition. They have dis
covered that 1t is ceutcrcd upon Mr.. Charles p.
Clark, until recently president of the New York
and New England Railroad, one OF the new and
most enterprising OF the Long Island Sound
shore lines from New York to Boston, and
which has Just come under the control OF prcsi-
dent j. A, Bostwick. Mr., Clark ie identified
by the Tribune MS having some sort Of interest
IN Long Island Sound steamers, and " Is In
ferrcd that he would not he impartial as between
these lines and the Sound shore railways This
morning the Sun, without naming anybody,
points directly at Mr.. Clark In an editorial in
tlmn,iug that he belongs TO n class of "unfit
men who have served In railroad management,
and who have distinguished themselves therein
by tra1icking In the stock and securities of their
own roads, using the knowledge gained as
officials and trustees for their personal cmolu-
mcnt.' All this seems 10 have grown out OF
my paragraph, whose only value in my mind
was that II was exclusive news of q very wide
spread feeling against such n nomination
I suppose while l am at It 1 might as well
apologize for another paragraph In the same
letter. II contained what thought was rather
good story at the expense OF my old friend and
associate, Mr. w. c. CrofIut, OF the Washington
| Post. II related how Charles A, Dana had
| taken occasion to dig him under the ribs with a
rapicr-like pen point for asking notice In the
! sun of a ''worthless book" he had written about
the Vanderbilts. | told the joke In the best
/ AZ. 49, ..
publisher, Mr. Belford OF Messrs Belford,
Clarke e Co. But Mr.. Croffut condemns me
out of Mr. Bclfori's own mouth, and feel tina,
/ cannot better retract the joke and apologize
TO Mr.. Croffut than by humbly printing Mr.
Belford's own words rs written to Mr.. Croffut
and underscored by somebody in the letter AZ
sent to me. "Mr Shanks published with con
siderable embellishments the story of Dana's
editorial. Mr.. $. prints that Dana said the
book was worthless. What did say was that
raluabic time on such Worthlcss subjects" O
course, / regret my error in mistaking 'worth
less book" for "worthless subjects" for II had
stated It rightly originally, there would have
been triple joke on Croffut, Dana. aud theil
friends, the Nanderbilts.
The difficulty with Ruddigore seems to bt
that its motive is merely to make ridiculous {
style of dramatic art which was already sum
ciently ridiculous. 1t is burlesquc of ole
melodrama and opera. The theme was worr
out years ago by Planche and others. Not onl.
has the old-stylc melodrama been forgotten
the age having outgrown the taste-but ever
Planche's clever burlcsques, too, are beyond thu
recollectons of present theatre-goers. Tn,
theme is a great deal better treated than 1t de
served by both Mr. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sulli
van Mr.. Gilbcrt's librctto is a little laboret
and has fewer of his logical absurdities than an,
OF his pieces; and the company has done mor'
ambitious and less popular work in this than II
the "Mkado" and other pieces. should 81.
|, that Mr.. Gilbert has written for the limited au
dicnce of old folks who can recall melodrami
In its prime and Sir Arthur Sullivan has selected
an audience OF musical students rather than o
, lovers of melodies. Nevertheless the play u
, going to be 20 financially, for the reputation
OF the writer and composer are such as viii
command attention, II not approval, Of anythin!
, they submit.
met Charlie Gaylor, the dramatist, last night
and the conversation turned In some way TO Mis-
, Dauvray, of the Lyceum, her peculiar abilities
, and the signal failure of her production o
Bronson Howard's recent play. Mr. Gaylo
said this Miss Dauvray was not so much II
, love with American plays as formerly-a con
! sequence OF Howard's failure. | suggested
Z that II Miss Dauvray could secure n moderl
! play with a character full of fun and Patio
alternating she would probably make a grea
hit as n character actress. Mr.. Gayor said h
i had written Just such play, but couldn't evei
, get her to listen to 1t read or read II herself
q tell this partly as explanatory of Gaylor'
opinion that Miss Dauvray has grown unfeel
i ing cold toward great American dramas AM
/ partly to point out to her how she may rchab
/ tate herself in Gaylor's good opinions.
WILLIAM +. q. SHANKs.